Bears clinch outright 18-4A baseball title

Michael Heard twirled a masterful one-hitter, struck out seven, and walked one in running his season record to 8-1, 4-0 in league play.

"It was a fantastic win," Montgomery coach Clint Heard said. "We clinched the district championship outright for the first time since 1996 and our team chemistry is a big reason for that."

The chemistry was working in the third inning as the Bears grabbed a 4-0 lead. Andy Yarotsky started the inning off with a walk. After a Colby Smith sacrifice, Drew Tucker singled to left and stole second.

Shan Sullivan was then hit by a pitch before Heard cleared the bases with a triple, chasing home Yarotsky, Tucker, and Sullivan. Cory Spaugh's ground out scored Chris Harris, who was running for Heard.

Montgomery blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Sullivan tripled, while Heard was intentionally walked. Brandon Allen's double down the leftfield line plated Sullivan and Harris. Spaugh's sacrifice fly sent Allen across the dish and the Bears were cruising 7-0.

In the sixth stanza, Yarotsky led off with a single. Smith followed with a fielder's choice that forced Yarotsky at second. Tucker then singled. Smith and Tucker crossed the pay station on a wild pitch and two passed balls. Harris came racing home on another Terry (6-13, 3-5) wild pitch and the Bears had captured the district title in impressive fashion.

"It is good feeling," Heard said. "The kids really battled tonight, just like they have all season long. But we can't become too complacent. We have two games left in district and our goal now is to go undefeated."

Bears (17-9, 8-0) travel to Waller on Tuesday before closing out district play at home on Friday night against Brenham.

TWHS 9, Westfield 1

The Woodlands High School varsity baseball team improved to 26-2 on the season and to 11-1 in 15-5A play with a 9-1 victory at Scotland Yard on Senior Citizens Night.

The Highlanders got a winning effort on the mound from Cory Fowler, who improved to 7-1 with a complete-game five-hitter. He struck out seven and walked just one.

TWHS went up 2-0 in the second when Jordan Dodson singled

and Shea Robin followed with his third homer of the season, to left.

After Westfield made it 2-1 in the fourth, TWHS scored three runs in the fifth. First, Wayne Hrozek singled and John Hopkins reached on a perfectly placed bunt. After Danny Lehmann's sac fly brought home a run, Kyle Drabek homered, his second of the season, deep to center.

In the sixth, Robin doubled and Matt Ghigna doubled, bringing home a run for a 6-1 lead. After Hrozek came through with an RBI-single, Hopkins reached on an error.

Lehmann and David Macias then followed with RBI-singles.

TWHS plays again Tuesday at Klein Forest at 7 p.m. and closes league play next Friday at home at 7 p.m. against Conroe.

New Caney 14, Livingston 0

The District 19-4A leading New Caney High School varsity

baseball team knocked off Livingston 14-0 at home on Friday night.

The Eagles, 7-1 in district, got a strong effort on the mound from Brent Turner, who is now 10-0. He went all five innings, allowing four hits, while striking out seven.

New Caney scored seven runs in the first. After Andrew Riddick led off with a double and Turner singled, Justin Harrison tripled in two runs. Later in the inning, which featured 11 NCHS batters, Riddick got another hit, this time a two-run single.

In the five-run fourth, Michael Miller walked and Jared Smith doubled, with Kyle Newton then doubling in two runs.

Conroe 8, Klein Oak 2

Beau Jolly allowed six hits in four innings and Duncan Millington got the final nine outs in a row in a Conroe win.

In the Tigers' four-run first, Marshal Davis had a two-out bases loaded hit. In the second, Chad Nichols went from 0-2 to a walk, bringing in a run.

"Our guys played hard and played well," said Conroe head coach Frank Romero. "We're not mathematically out. We still have a chance."

Conroe plays again Tuesday at 4 p.m. at home against Westfield on Teacher Appreciation Day.

Oak Ridge 7, Caney Creek 0

Lance Nobile homered and Wes Wells pitched a one-hitter in a 19-4A win.

Tyler Klein, Kyle Henson and John Campbell also starred at the plate for the War Eagles.